Jalok

by Elin Wyn

  To make things more difficult, Adam was behaving strangely for someone allegedly on his way to a job interview.

  He took a meandering, illogical path through the city.

  After every half block he traversed, Adam would glance about himself as if suspicious of being followed.

  Several times I was certain he was going to spot me, but my hastily chosen cover protected me from his vision.

  At one point, I was cowering behind a display of exotic shells from the nearby sea. The proprietor eyed me suspiciously with a narrowed gaze.

  “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

  “Official government business. Don’t blow my cover.”

  “Half the people on the street can see you hiding behind my wares.”

  “I don’t care about half the street.

  I only care about one annoying human, and if your ceaseless prattle alerts him to my presence, I am going to be…perturbed.”

  I cracked my knuckles to reinforce my point.

  The vendor blanched and then quickly turned his attention away from me, nervous sweat dripping down his brow.

  Srell. That was the sort of thing that made Dottie grumpy.

  I’d have to work on that.

  Later.

  I peeked through the legs of the vendor’s stool, and saw Adam turn back and continue his haphazard journey.

  “Thanks, citizen.” I smiled toothily at the little human and then followed Adam. He turned around the corner at the next intersection and fell out of sight.

  I counted ten of my own heart beats, then hurried to catch up.

  Peering around the corner, I just caught a glimpse of him stepping over a safety barricade and heading down a street in too poor repair for common use. If I wasn’t already suspicious, I certainly was now.

  The Search and Rescue headquarters sat a half dozen blocks away, and he had no business whatsoever in that part of the still dilapidated town.

  With Adam out of my sight, I bustled down to the alley. I didn’t want to lose him in the labyrinthine corridors of the damaged block.

  Still, I flattened myself to the wall and carefully peered around the corner, just in case he was close.

  Adam had stopped a half block into the alley. He walked up to a metal door and rapped.

  After a few tense moments, the door swung open and a scruffy looking human emerged, wearing no shirt but a rubber apron and matching gloves.

  Exactly the type of gear one would wear, say, if one were building homemade gas bombs like the ones used in the riot.

  The scruffy man was known to me because of my myriad debriefings after the Kaster riot.

  He was believed to be the leader of the Kaster anti-alien cell, Jaxon Wolfe. Wolfe was seen on surveillance footage of the riot organizing the most violent sects of the anti-alien protesters.

  However, he was not caught overtly committing acts of violence himself, which made procuring a warrant for his arrest tricky, even if his location could be pinned down.

  Wolfe took off his gloves and shook Adam’s hand. Both men had big smiles on their faces.

  In my years as a soldier, I’ve found that no one has a grin quite like someone dedicated to an irrational belief system.

  They smile like that because they think they have it all figured out. Life, the Universe, and everything all wrapped up in their neat little ideology.

  In this case, however, their ideology was centered around the right of myself and other aliens to live and breathe. I couldn’t help but take it personally.

  They were too away for me to make out what they’re saying, and I couldn’t read lips in Skotan, let alone the human tongue.

  Their smiles faded as the discussion turned serious. Wolfe did most of the talking, while Adam nodded in agreement.

  Were they planning an act of terror against the alien citizens, or were they just talking about what was for dinner?

  Unfortunately, I had no way to tell.

  But it was a safe bet that they were discussing dark subjects. The two men talked for some time, the shadows stretching out longer as the sun drifted across the sky.

  From time to time they would smile or even laugh, but for the most part their discussion appeared quite grim from my admittedly limited perception.

  Adam and Wolfe shook hands once more, and then embraced one another. Wolfe held Adam by the shoulders at arm’s length and spoke to him solemnly.

  Whatever he said had quite an effect on Adam.

  Dottie’s brother appeared stunned, but then he gave Wolfe a curt nod.

  The two men finished their meeting, with Wolfe retreating back into the door he’d come from. I made a mental note of where to find it.

  Adam turned and started walking back toward the main street, and I hastily struggled to find cover.

  I found a spot behind an overflowing trash bin, but when my great weight settled against the hot metal side I dislodged a food can. With despair, I watched it clank down onto the deserted street.

  Cursing silently, I squeezed myself against the wall. There was enough of a gap between the bin and the building next to it that I could see Adam step out from the alley. He peered suspiciously in my direction.

  Then he moved out of my sight. I waited for tense moments, expecting him to pop out into view and find me at any second.

  Then I started thinking, why was I even hiding anymore? I wasn’t the one meeting with a suspected terrorist, after all. I wasn’t the one acting suspiciously.

  I decided I would simply confront Adam then and there.

  Boldly, I stepped into the street, expecting to see Adam almost on top of me. Instead, I was greeted by an empty road.

  “Shit.”

  I took off at a dead run, heading back for the last cross street. When I reached the corner, I saw the vendor with his sea shells, and myriad other folk going about their business, but there was no sign of Dottie’s brother.

  Frantically, I retraced our weird, illogical route, but still found no sign of Adam.

  Apparently my noise had made him even more paranoid, or he’d always intended to take a different route back home.

  Home. He wouldn’t be heading home. He’d be headed for Dottie’s.

  I now knew what I had to do. Giving up my fruitless search for Adam, I instead made haste for Dottie’s flat.

  I had a terrible feeling, and more than anything wished could have called up central command for a rift, but of course Fen had put the nix on all rift travel for the time being.

  My recent stay in the hospital still haunted me, as I was far too winded for such a trivial amount of exertion when I reached Dottie’s.

  But the feeling wouldn’t let me rest.

  What if something happened to her? I took the stairs two at a time. When I reached her apartment, I didn’t bother to knock or use the door chime. I just burst right on in.

  Three pairs of eyes snapped over to me as I stumbled inside, panting from fatigue.

  Dottie and Adam stood in the kitchenette, making lunch, while my cousin Cazak sat nearby with a datapad in his hand.

  “Jalok, what’s wrong?” He asked the question in a way that let me know he knew what was up, but was putting on a show for Dottie’s benefit.

  “You look awful.” Dottie quickly poured me a glass of water, but I didn’t take the offered vessel.

  Instead I glared at Adam.

  “Maybe Adam should tell you what’s wrong.”

  His eyes narrowed, but a smile played at his lips.

  “I have no idea what you’re going on about, Skotan.”

  “Really?” I jabbed my finger in his direction. “So you just weren’t meeting with a suspected anti-alien terrorist?”

  Panic flashed over Adam’s face, quickly replaced with faux indignation.

  “How dare you make such an accusation. I’ve been meeting with Search and Rescue all day.”

  “You lie.”

  “Be careful what you say, scaly.” Adam sneered. “I’m not afraid of you, and I don�
��t take kindly to being falsely accused.”

  I snarled, and took a step toward Adam, but Cazak stepped between us.

  “I’ll solve this little problem. Let’s just give Search and Rescue a call and confirm Adam’s alibi.”

  Adam shook with rage as Cazak made the call, and I awaited validation with a knowing smile.

  Foolish human. He should have known not to fight me, even if this wasn’t a traditional battlefield.

  But as I realized it would break Dottie’s heart, my victory turned to ashes in my mouth.

  Dottie

  “Jalok, is this really necessary?” I demanded.

  “I’m sorry, Dottie.” His tone changed from harsh and accusatory into the gentle voice I’d become accustomed to hearing. “You know I wouldn’t do this unless I felt I had to.”

  I searched Jalok’s expression and found nothing but open honesty in his eyes.

  I wish that made me feel better.

  I looked at Adam, who shot me a pleading gaze.

  “Dottie, this is ridiculous and you know it. They’re all paranoid. Who could blame them for it?” He gestured to the others in the room. “But you know me better than anyone. You know how much I’ve done for Search and Rescue. Why would I jeopardize that?”

  I stood between my brother and the alien I thought I was falling in love with.

  I looked from one to the other, unsure what I was supposed to do in this situation.

  “I’m calling to confirm the location of one of your team members,” Cazak spoke into the receiver.

  Adam turned a shade paler. I knew before Cazak disconnected that Adam lied to us.

  Tears filled my eyes. I blinked them away even though it hurt to do so.

  “Thank you for the information.” Cazak disconnected and gave Jalok a nod. “You were right. The Search and Rescue team hasn’t heard from Adam in a few days. They’re under the impression he took time off to visit his sister.”

  “You used me?” My voice sounded dry and pinched, nothing like my own. Jalok reached out for me but I put up a hand to stop him. I was too angry to be touched right now.

  “Dottie, you don’t get it,” Adam groaned.

  “Then explain it to me,” I said through gritted teeth.

  “I came here to meet with a notable leader of the Pro-Human Coalition,” Adam explained.

  “Have you lost your goddamned mind?” I yelled.

  “Have you?” Adam bellowed back.

  “Watch it,” Jalok threatened. He moved closer to me. This time, I didn’t stop him.

  “Shut up, scum.”

  “Adam!” I hissed.

  Cazak put his hand on the hilt of his weapon. I lifted my hand, silently pleading with him not to draw it.

  “I came here to talk to them so that I could ensure your safety,” Adam said to me.

  “My safety?” I sputtered. “I’m as safe as I’m going to get!” I gestured to the two armed aliens in the room.

  “I refuse to believe you’re that naïve,” Adam scoffed. “The aliens don’t want to help us. They want to rule over us.”

  “That’s simply not true.”

  “Of course, is it.” Adam wound his fingers into his hair. “I don’t want them dead. I swear, I’m not like those other terrorists that want to slaughter them all. I’m not like that!”

  “Then why are you seeking them out?”

  “The leader I met with has a brilliant plan.”

  “Did Jaxon Wolfe start the riot in Kaster?” Jalok demanded.

  “He never told me,” Adam smirked. “Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you.”

  “We have ways of getting the information we want.” Cazak cracked his knuckles.

  “He said he doesn’t know,” I repeated.

  “How can you believe anything he says after this?” Cazak demanded.

  “Because he’s family. Let him speak.”

  “Thank you, little sister,” Adam smiled. “The man I met with doesn’t want to kill all of the aliens either. He’s just like me!”

  There was a crazed gleam in Adam’s eyes. It broke my heart. This couldn’t be happening. I’d just gotten my brother back, and now I was going to lose him.

  “What does he want, then?”

  “Like me, he realizes that there are benefits to having them around. They have better tech, better resources. They can help us fix the planet.”

  “Finally, he says something that makes sense,” Jalok mumbled. I nudged his side gently, urging him to be quiet.

  “How is he anti-alien if he believes that?” I prompted. “That doesn’t sound like a terrorist at all.”

  “His plan is to allow the aliens to fix up our planet then force them out. The aliens don’t want to be here either! They have their own home planets. It’s a win-win situation!”

  That didn’t exactly make sense. From what I’d heard, the aliens couldn’t go home if they wanted. They were stuck here.

  But I needed to keep Adam talking.

  The more information he spilled, the more useful it’ll be to Jalok and Cazak.

  “What about the aliens who’ve found mates here?” I prompted.

  Adam’s expression soured. “Mates,” he spat. “The aliens didn’t’ find mates. They found toys.”

  “Some human women have already married their alien soulmates,” I reminded him, thinking of the smile on Tella’s face. She’d never be anyone’s toy, that was for certain.

  “Oh yes,” Adam nodded. “I saw that story on the news about a human woman giving birth to a little hybrid monster. Disgusting. That creature is an abomination. It’s directly defiant of humanity. It should be drowned or shot into space.”

  “Adam!” I gasped. “You don’t mean that. What happened to not wanting to kill the aliens?”

  “I don’t want them here. I want them gone,” he snapped. “If that can be achieved without killing, that’s fine. If it can’t, I’m willing to do what’s necessary. That hybrid creature cannot be allowed to grow up here. This planet is not its home.”

  “Don’t you see that the aliens have kept me safe? They’ve become my friends.”

  “Oh, they’ve become much more than your friends,” Adam sneered. “Did you think I wouldn’t see it? You and him.” Adam looked past me and glared at Jalok.

  “He’s saved my life on several occasions. One of those occasions was when a radical tried to kill me.”

  “You’re falling for it, Dottie! You can’t even see it!” Adam shrieked. “He’s going to make you into a breeder just like that other woman! I won’t ever let that happen to my little sister.”

  I stepped back, shocked, as white hot rage poured through me.

  “I should slap you for that,” I hissed. “You don’t get to say things like that to me. I’ve been on my own for a long time, Adam. That’s partially because you never thought to let me know you’re alive. You seemed to think I was perfectly capable of handling myself then, and I’m perfectly capable now. I don’t need you to look out for me especially, if you’re going to do it like this.”

  “If you’re going to be this stupid, then you deserve whatever comes to you.” Adam stormed out of the living room and into my bedroom. He slammed the door with enough force to rattle the light fixtures.

  “That’s my room, asshole!” I shouted, then sagged against the wall.

  Cazak, Jalok and I stood in tense silence.

  “I could arrest him if you want,” Cazak suggested. “Get him out of here.”

  “No,” Jalok and I said at the same time. I looked at him in surprise.

  “If we leave him free but monitor him, we can figure out who he’s been talking to,” Jalok suggested. “We know to an extent now, but we can work further down the terrorist cell. It’s what got us this far.”

  “I’m not exactly thrilled with how far you’ve got,” I snapped.

  Jalok looked at me in surprise.

  “It’s getting late,” Cazak said quickly. “I’m going to head back to Command.”

  “He�
��ll be right behind you.” I threw a pointed look at Jalok.

  “No, I will not,” Jalok protested.

  Cazak took the opportunity to sneak out the front door.

  “I don’t want you and Adam in the same apartment.” I explained. “You two are like oil and water.”

  “I’m not going to leave you alone here with Adam,” Jalok insisted, jaw set. “Did you hear anything he said? He’s losing his mind!”

  “Don’t talk about my brother that way,” I hissed. “I agree with you that something’s wrong but he’s still my family.”

  “I understand that but he’s been associating with anti-alien radicals!”

  “I know!” I groaned. “I wish I didn’t know!”

  “You’d rather be in danger and not know about it?”

  “No.” I pressed the back of my hand into my forehead as if it would stop the oncoming headache. “I’m sorry,” I sighed.

  “I’m just trying to do my job and keep you safe,” Jalok said gently. “I can’t let anything happen to you.”

  “I know. I just,” tears welled up in my eyes again. I let a few escape and slide down my cheeks. “I just got Adam back. Now I feel like I’m losing him all over again.”

  “I know.” Jalok took a step closer to me but I backed away. “Are you angry with me?”

  “I’m angry at everything right now,” I told him.

  The truth was that I felt anger towards him.

  He was the one who revealed Adam’s liaison in the first place. If Jalok hadn’t been so determined, I’d still have my older brother.

  Or at least, the illusion of him.

  I knew my train of thought made no sense. I knew it wasn’t fair. But I also knew that I needed to be angry.

  I couldn’t bring myself to be angry at Adam yet. There was some kind of blockage stopping me from despising him like I should.

  I felt like a monster as I sat down on the couch with my back to Jalok.

  “You don’t have to talk to me about it now,” he said after a long silence. “But we are going to talk about it. And I’m not leaving you here alone. I’ll sleep on the floor if I have to. Not sure the couch can take much more.”